28 May What Does Facilitation Mean in a Criminal Charge?
Arizona is governed by a set of laws called a penal code. These laws determine how crimes are defined and the consequences for breaking them. And since many different crimes can range in severity, classifications may be added to criminal charges. For example, being charged with “facilitation” of a crime is not as bad as committing the crime itself. We explain what facilitation means, and how it affects a criminal charge.
Facilitation As Defined By Arizona Law
“A person commits facilitation if, acting with knowledge that another person is committing or intends to commit an offense, the person knowingly provides the other person with means or opportunity for the commission of the offense.”
Arizona Penal Code 13-1004: Facilitation; classification
This complicated definition essentially boils down to: If you help someone else commit a crime, you can be charged with facilitating that crime.
Facilitating a crime can look like:
- Allowing access to tools, supplies, or vehicles
- Providing transportation to the location of the crime
- Supplying information (like security codes) that will help someone commit a crime
If facilitation sounds a lot like conspiracy, that is because they are closely related. In both cases, someone else is helping another person commit a crime. However, facilitation does not require a prior agreement in the way that conspiracy does.
How Facilitation Changes a Criminal Charge
In Arizona, there are sometimes two parts to a criminal charge. The base crime describes the law that was broken. For example, assault is the act of intentionally causing someone bodily harm. Adding a classifier gives the judge more information. For instance, “assault as domestic violence” tells the court the crime was committed by a member of the same household.
Some classifiers, like domestic violence, heighten the punishments for a conviction. A classifier like facilitation, however, changes a criminal charge by lowering the class of a crime. This means that a sentence for facilitating a crime will have shorter incarceration times and lower fines.
For example:
- A class 1 felony changes to a class 5 felony
- A class 2 or 3 felony becomes a class 6 felony
- A class 4 or 5 felony drops to a class 1 misdemeanor
- A class 6 felony changes to a class 3 misdemeanor
Criminal Defense Attorney in Arizona
If you are facing criminal charges in Arizona, you need a good lawyer on your side. If you want to avoid incarceration, fines, and a criminal record, hiring a certified defense attorney can make all the difference.
Todd Coolidge has been defending cases in the Arizona justice system for over 25 years. He is dedicated to providing his clients with the expert legal representation and respect they deserve.
Don’t leave your future hanging—contact Coolidge Law today for a consultation.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (5/28/25). Photo by Matthew Ansley on Unsplash.